Here you can follow our sailing from Sweden to the Mediterranian.We have a new yacht s/y Carpe Diem, Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 40. Of practical reasons we are still using the homepage of our previous yacht s/y Xavita.

Klicka på bilderna föratt se dem i större format. NOTE! Click on the photos to have a larger image.

Or Saint Barthelemy as the correct name
is. The island was a Swedish colony 1784-1878. How come? Well, the French
wanted exemption from custom duties when importing French goods to Gothenburg in
Sweden and as compensation Sweden got St. Barth. The island was only populated
by a group of farmers from western France working hard to cultivate the land.
The Swedes founded the town Gustavia, named after the Swedish king Gustav III and built the forts Oscar, Gustav and Karl on
the surrounding hills to defend the settlement. The island became also a “porto
franco” and prosperred as a neutral area when the French and the English were
fighting. After almost one hundred years the Swedish governordeemed that the island
was not profitable While we were there for the Swedish government and it was
sold back to France for 80,000 francs. If not, the island could have been a
nice summer resort with Swedish domestic flights. Street names are still
Swedish with an additional French name.

Gustavia is very tidy and well
managed, in fact the nicest town in the Caribbean so far. It is like being in a
town in southern France and not in the West Indies. They do everything to
attract the well-off. Along the streets are expensive dress shops and jewelers
and huge yachts are berthed in the little harbor. To be able to squeeze in as
many yachts as possible the harbor authorities offer the help of divers when
anchoring and leaving so the anchors will not get tangled. Today the island is
a place for the rich and their toys.

Great races took place during 3 days
while we were there. 47 giant sailing yachts, among others J-class with some 30
white dressed crew participated in the races around the island. We moved to Anse
du Colombier, a bay on the north side of St. Barths, to be able to see more. A huge American megayacht blocked the view, so
we sailed in a strong breeze on the beam some few miles in high Atlantic waves
to the little island Ile Fourche halfway to St. Martin. There we were like
sitting on the first row to overlook the tight fights between the sailing
elephants.

Ile Fourche is a wonderful uninhabited
island with clear water. A nature reserve where only mooring at buoys is
allowed to protect the sea bed. Some corals and fishes are to be seen, but
nothing to lift our eyebrows. We are too spoiled after our scuba dives in the
Red Sea.

Our friends Ritva and Bengt on Miss Blue
were also in the bay. Besides blue water cruisers they are also treasure hunters, doing geocashing, which is searching
for hidden objects with the help of a GPS. We participated in a thrilling
treasure hunt leading us to a gap in the mountain on the top of the island,
where all stones were turned in the search of the treasure. To everybody’s
surprise Johan was the one finding the treasure. Maybe we will also become
geocashers.